Protector for mouthpieces of musical instruments



May 27, 1924. 1,495,322

J. GREENE ET AL PROTECTOR FOR MOUTHPIECES OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed March 24 1923 [NVEN TOR JJISfP/f G/Pff/Y ATTORNEY.

Patented May 27, 1924.

JOSEPH GREENE AND GEORGE M. REACH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROTECTOR FOR MOUTHPIECES OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed March 24. 1923. Serial No. 627,434.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH GREENE and Gnonon .M. REACH, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Point sylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Protectors for Mouthpieces of Musical Instruments, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to mouthpieces for musical instruments and more particularly to mouthpieces of that type for use on instruments similar to the clarinet or saxophone. i

In the ordinary mouthpiece as known, it is common to use a cover or cap which is entirel separate from the mouthpiece, and when t 1e player has ceased to use the instrument, it is necessary to place this cover over the mouthpiece to protect thereed from any possible injury. It is well known. that these reeds are ver delicate and that the slightest force applied thereto will break the same, thereby rendering the instrument useless. It has been found that in placing the cap on the mouthpiece and in removing the same, the reed is very often broken, and for this reason these caps have not been very successful.

It also happens that on certain occasions, it is necessary for the player to change instruments rapidly and time is not afforded to place these covers on the mouthpieces so that when the player is changing from one instrument to another, it also quite often happens that the reed is in'ured so that the instrument cannot be use until the same has been renewed.

It is the object of our invention to provide a protector for this reed which is at all times attached to the mouthpiece and can be rapidly placed over or removed from the reed to fully protect the same against any possible injury, thereby eliminating the objectionable features found to be prevalent where the detached protector is in use.

Another object of our invention is to so mount the protector as to eliminate any possibility of contact between the protector and reed and also to attach the protector to the band which secures-the reed in place so that the same may be removed from the instrument together with the band when it is found necessary to supply a new reed for the instrument.

Still a. further object is to provide resilient means for rapidly urging the protector to its operative or inoperative position and to hold the same securely in either position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification and wherein like characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of our invention showing the protector in its operative position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line Fig. 1, showing the reed in place.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of the protector showing the construction of the hinge.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line AA, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View on the line BB, Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates a protector for the mouthpiece being provided with end and side flanges embracing the mouthpiece and having on its outer end a lug 2, by means of which the protector may be swung to its operative or inoperative position. Surrounding the mouthpiece 4, we provide a band 3, composed of a single piece of sheet metal, and on this band 3, we mount a spring 5 by riveting or otherwise attaching the same thereto, and this spring is adapted to apply upward pressure on the end of the protector 1. Intermediate the ends of the protector 1, a lug 6 is formed which is adapted to contact with the band 3, for the purpose of holding the protector away from the reed 10 when in its closed position. In this mannor, the reed is protected at all times from contact with the protector and possibility of breaking the reed is thereby eliminated. Struck from the band 3, we provide ears 8, which extend upwardly therefrom and in parallel relation, the said ears having openings therein to receive trunnions 7. carried by the end of the protector 1, so that the protector is pivotally mounted with relation to the band 3. The band is also provided with downwardly extending ears having screw threaded openings therein to receive a thumb screw 12 and on each side of the cars 14:, we provide lugs 13 through which the thumb screw is adapted to ass. In this manner it is seen that the ban 3 is detachably secured to the motithpiece, encircling the same and rigidly holding the reed 10 in proper position. It is also to be noted that the band is provided with a recess 15 near one end to receive the heads of the rivets 9 by means of which the spring is attached to the band. This recess is provided for the heads of the rivets so that they will not contact with the reed and the hand will therefore snugly engage the reed and eliminate any possible movement thereof.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when it is necessary to use the instrument, it will only be necessary for the player to press upwardly on the lug 2, thereby rotating the protector about the trunnions 7, in opposition to the spring 5, which normally holds the protector in its closed position. However, when the protector has been raised to such a point that the pressure of the spring is applied to the end of the protector, on the opposite side of the pivot point, it can be readily seen that the protector will rapidly be thrown to its oien or inoperative position and the continue upward pressure of the spring will maintain the protector in this open position. When it is necessary to change from one instrument to another, it will only be necessary for the operator to grasp the protector and swing the same back until the same has passed the pivot point where the pressure of the spring will again tend to snap the protector to closed position. It is readily seen, therefore, that it requires a minimum of time to remove or replace this protector and that applicants have provided a simple, neat and compact construction for accomplishing this purpose. The protector may readily be applied to the ordinary types of musical instruments now on the market without radical changes therein and is of such simple construction that it can be readily manufactured at very little expense.

Applicants have provided the stud 2 to assist in the operation of the protector because of the fact that without this stud, the natural tendency would be to engage the end of the protector with the fingers, and in raising the protector possible injury to the reed might take place. However, when the stud 2 is used, this possibility is eliminated.

It is to be understood that changes in the form, size or proportion of the invention may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended and applicants do not intend to limit themselves to the use of anyvparticular kind of material or finish.

e claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a reed detachably mounted on a mouthpiece, a detachable band encircling the mouthpiece and holding the reed in proper position, a protector pivotallymounted on the band and adapted to be swung into and out of operative position, a spring bearing against the protector at its pivot point whereby swinging of the same to either side of the vertical will cause the same to assume either its operative or inoperative position and further means for holding the protector in spaced relation to the reed.

2. A device of the character described comprising a reed and a mouthpiece, a band encircling the mouthpiece and securing the reed thereto, u wardly extending ears struck from the ban in parallel relation, a pro tector comprising end flanges and side flanges to embrace themouthpiece and onclose the reed therebetween, trunnions on the protector mounted in the upwardly extending ears to form a pivotal connection between the ears and protector, alug on the protector engaging the band to hold the protector in spaced relation with the reed, and means for detachably securing the said band to the mouthpiece.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a reed and a mouthpiece, a band encircling the mouthpiece and securin the reed thereto, a protector comprising end and side flanges to embrace the mouthpiece, means fior pivotall connecting the protector adjacent one 0 its ends to the band to provide a long and a short arm, a spring bearing on the protector at its pivot point whereb. upon raising the protector past the vertica the spring bearing on the said short end of the protector urges the same to either open or closed position with relation to the mouthpiece.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

GEORGE M. KEACH. JOSEPH GREENE. 

